South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has become the first ambulance service in Europe to roll out digital in-car alerts across its fleet. The system, known as Safety Cloud and supplied by HAAS Alert, automatically warns nearby drivers when an ambulance is responding on blue lights or stationary at an incident.
When crews activate their emergency lights the vehicle transmits real-time location data through the Safety Cloud network. Compatible navigation apps and some car systems then display an alert, often giving drivers 20 to 30 seconds of advance notice before they see or hear the ambulance. Alerts currently appear in Waze and Apple Maps, with growing integration into vehicle infotainment systems including certain Škoda models.
The technology went live across SECAmb’s fleet in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and North Hampshire in December 2024 after a successful trial. It uses the Trust’s existing ACETECH telematics platform, so no major new hardware was needed on every vehicle.
Benefits for Crews, Patients and Drivers
The main aims are safer roads and faster responses. Earlier awareness should help drivers pull over more calmly and give ambulances a clearer path through traffic. SECAmb expects this to reduce response times, cut vehicle collision damage and associated downtime, and lower the Trust’s carbon footprint by reducing unnecessary idling and detours.
Fleet Services Manager Rob Martin has highlighted the practical value: the alerts sit alongside traditional lights and sirens and give motorists more time to react, creating a safer experience for crews, patients and other road users.
Who Else is Using the Technology
In the UK the system has spread beyond ambulances. Avon Fire & Rescue Service was the first European fire service to equip its fleet, followed by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
Internationally the picture is stronger in some places. Nearly all ambulances in the Netherlands are connected to Safety Cloud. In the United States the platform is used by hundreds of fire, EMS and police agencies, along with tow trucks, utility vehicles and other roadside operators. Car manufacturers are also integrating the alerts, with Škoda becoming the first European brand to offer native Safety Cloud emergency vehicle warnings in the UK and Netherlands.
Limitations and Considerations
The system is not universal. Drivers only receive alerts if they are using a supported app or have a compatible vehicle. Coverage is expanding but is still incomplete. Some earlier evaluations of similar technology noted potential issues around alert timing in very rural high-speed environments, the risk of alert fatigue if multiple vehicles are nearby, and questions about liability if the system fails to deliver a warning. Privacy is managed by sharing only limited location and direction data rather than full addresses.
Overall the feedback from SECAmb and other early adopters has been positive, with the technology viewed as a useful extra layer of protection rather than a complete replacement for lights, sirens and good driving practice.
For related reading on digital systems and technology in UK ambulance services, see the EMSUK Learning overview of major prehospital trials and digital projects: UK Prehospital Care Trials and the main EMSUK Learning site: EMSUK Learning.
This development sits within a wider move towards connected vehicles and smarter roads across the NHS and emergency services. As more fleets and car manufacturers join the network, the number of drivers who automatically receive these early warnings is expected to keep rising.
“The alerts, in addition to traditional lights and sirens, will mean motorists able to use the system will be aware of our presence sooner. This extra time not only creates a safer experience for motorists but also our operational crews and patients across the south east.” – Rob Martin, Fleet Services Manager, South East Coast Ambulance Service.
References
- SECAmb official announcement on digital alert system: https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/digital-alert-system-for-drivers-lets-you-know-an-ambulance-is-near/
- SECAmb earlier driver alerts page: https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/driver-ambulance-alerts-to-improve-road-safety/
- Emergency Services Times coverage of SECAmb one-year milestone: https://emergencyservicestimes.com/2025/10/06/secamb-celebrates-one-year-of-road-safety-innovation/
- Highways News on SECAmb introduction: https://highways-news.com/ambulance-trust-introduces-in-car-alerts/
- HAAS Alert European expansion and Škoda integration: https://highways-news.com/skoda-implements-haas-emergency-vehicle-alerts-in-the-uk/
- Surrey Fire and Rescue joining Safety Cloud: https://highways-news.com/surrey-fire-and-rescue-service-joins-safety-cloud-network/
- EMSUK Learning – UK Prehospital Care Trials: https://www.emsuklearning.co.uk/uk-prehospital-care-trials-last-15-20-years/
Quick Overview
- 3 minute read
- Intermediate level
- Updated 5 Oct 2026
Key Learning Points
- SECAmb was the first European ambulance service to equip its full fleet with HAAS Alert Safety Cloud digital alerting.
- Alerts reach drivers via Waze, Apple Maps and growing numbers of in-car systems, often giving 20–30 seconds of advance notice.
- Other UK users include Avon Fire & Rescue and Surrey Fire and Rescue. The Netherlands has near-universal ambulance coverage.
- Expected benefits include safer responses, fewer collisions involving emergency vehicles, and smoother progress through traffic.
- Coverage is not yet universal and depends on drivers using supported apps or vehicles.
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